Here I am wearing my knee high Minnetonka's (which are for sale on my IG, btw! Size 8), black leggings from Forever 21, a tan asymmetrical fringe cardigan from Body Central, and tan scoop neck blouse from SteinMart. I believe my necklace is from Delia's. I cannot remember because it is a few years old.
I will be posting an article tomorrow about how I reached 2,000 Instagram followers. This might be useful to some, as it was a topic I researched when I started becoming interested in growing my IG audience. I am sure there are many ways to reach 2,000 or more followers, but I want to share what I did to increase my followers.
I hope everyone is having a wonderful week so far! If you haven't seen my updates on my YouTube channel, I plan on merging my fashion and jewelry blogs very soon. I want to change over to Wordpress and have my own domain name. My blog name will likely change, as well. I would like to bring everything to one place, instead of spreading myself too thin. It can be difficult keeping track of so many things, as I am sure many of you understand.
Also, if you didn't see my post about the tie giveaway, head over to Tie Cargo and use the coupon code "tiezero" to receive a free name-brand tie.
-xoxo-
Stephanie
Congratulations to Sarah Martinez for winning my Instagram giveaway! Thank you so much to everyone who participated. It was so exciting to pick out the pieces in this giveaway, and I look forward to having many more giveaways in the future.
If you didn't see my post about free ties for the first 20 subscribers to Tie Cargo, make sure you check that out. All you have to do is use coupon code "tiezero" at checkout, and your name-brand tie will be on its way. Normally it is $10 for one name-brand tie per month. Examples include Armani, J.Crew and Ralph Lauren. Go check out Tie Cargo!
Thank you again to all who participated in my giveaways! Y'all are so awesome! Have a wonderful night!
-xoxo-
Stephanie
I received this sweater as a gift from the boyfriend's grandmother, Grammie, whose mother made it for her. It is such an amazing sweater to have lasted so long and look so perfect still. Grammie keeps all of her belongings in pristine condition. It is just astounding, and it motivates me to take better care of my things. Grammie has given me many beautiful things and such amazing clothing hacks. I'm excited to start sharing some of those secrets with y'all. Who doesn't want to make their clothing last as many years as possible, so you have more money to spend on other things? I know I do. Anyway, you cannot find the top above anywhere, as it is one of a kind, but my black skinnies are from Nordstrom's, and my kiss loafers are from H&M. I bought both items over six months ago, so I am uncertain if you can still find them.
If you haven't seen my blog post about my giveaway for 2000 Instagram followers, go check it out! I will be revealing the prizes on Instagram over the next few weeks. Find me @dressdynamicdallas. Best to y'all!
-xoxo-
Stephanie
I received these Tarte Brazilliance skin rejuvenating marajuca self tanning face towelettes in my Allure Sample Society Beauty Box several months ago. I'm not sure why I waited so long to try them, but now I am addicted. I have never tried any type of bronzing towelettes before, but I am a huge fan of self tanners.
These are so easy to use! All you do is wipe the towelette evenly all over your face and neck. I also rub the towelette on the back of my neck, onto my shoulders, and down my the front of my chest. I like to use them before bed, and you wake up with a bronze glow. It definitely makes you look like you got some sun, or just healthier and more vibrant. I love my natural porcelain skin, but it is also fun to be able to have a warmer glow if I want.
Let me know if you have tried these, or if you have any recommendations. Don't forget to enter my giveaway for 2000 Instagram followers. You can find out more on my Instagram @dressdynamicdallas.
-xoxo-
Stephanie
A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post about my hair care, and the OGX Quenched Sea Mineral Moisture is something I wanted to talk about a little more, just to emphasize how much I like it. I bought this product, because I needed something to tame those little fly-aways that happen right at the top of your forehead when you are way overdue for a haircut. My hair gets too oily if I apply products like this dry, but when I put it on damp hair, it dried so beautifully. It has a nice scent, and the bottle really makes me feel like a mermaid when I use it. You can find this product at most department stores. I bought mine at Walgreen's. It's also super affordable. I think it was under $5.
Let me know if you have tried this or any other OGX products. Also, let me know if you have any recommendations. I love finding great products. Don't forget to check my last blog post and enter my giveaway. There are going to be so many prizes! Find out more about the prizes on my Instagram @dressdynamicdallas.
-xoxo-
Stephanie
I was so excited when I saw these lip-shaped toothpaste squeezers on Instagram. Not only are they adorable, but they are super handy. I think the actual name is toothpaste squeezer, but as you can see, it works well on expensive beauty products, or any other items that may come in a tube. I love stretching my products. I haven't gone as far as cutting off the end of the tube and using a q-tip to get out every last bit possible, but I am highly debating it, because I am curious to see just how many more uses I can get out of a product. You can find these toothpaste squeezers on Amazon, and I am sure you can also find them on eBay.
Soon here I will be following up with a blog post about my empties. It's getting to be that time where a bunch of my products are about to run out, and I thought what a good time this would be to discuss each one. It also means I am going to need a few more products. I should be heading over to Sephora this weekend and following up with a beauty haul on that, as well.
Hope y'all had a good day!
Stephanie
I am wearing olive pants from Forever 21. My wedge booties are from Marshall's. The striped top is from Steinmart. I wore this outfit yesterday with different booties. It's such a simple, yet cute outfit to throw on when you're running out the door.
Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @dressdynamicdallas.
I ordered this sample off of the Jo Malone website because I am obsessed with this scent, as most people are who smell it. It was so exciting when I discovered you can request samples of certain fragrances. Jo Malone is a wonderful store where I wish I could spend thousands of dollars. I want everything!
If you are uncertain what to get your sweetie for Valentine's Day, this is certainly a great idea. I believe you can find it at stores, such as Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom's, and if you are in New York, I believe you can get same day delivery in certain locations. It's not too late to get something your loved one will certainly enjoy.
Let me know if you have tried this scent and/or other Jo Malone fragrances. Also, don't forget to follow me on Instagram @dressdynamicdallas. Have a wonderful evening!
-xoxo-
Stephanie
If you are like me you, you tend to wait last minute to do most everything. Although I am getting better as I grow older and mature, it's sort of just part of my nature. I can definitely get ahead on some tasks, but then I fall behind on others. SO! I am saying all of this because I came up with this adorable Valentine's Day card idea after reading about a similar idea online.
This is a love certificate. I read about making gift cards for things like massages and other special treats somewhere online. I decided to create a single card with different hearts that can contain numbers or actual items of a variety, which would be much quicker than creating multiple certificates. I happened to have some bright colored paper from a rummage sale I assisted with a few years ago. I also have a heap of magazines I used to cut out letters and numbers. You can get as creative as you like, depending on how much time you have. I think this took me about ten minutes to put together. I didn't have glue in my immediate reach, but I had tape, so as you can see that also works.
This is an easy and quick gift. I hope you enjoy it, and it comes in handy. Let me know if you like this idea.
-xoxo-
Stephanie
I almost completely forgot today is Friday the 13th. I saw Instagram posted something about superstitions and will post on Monday those who have used the hashtag #WHPsuperstition. I was excited when I saw it because I think superstitions are so fascinating. One of my favorites is don't step on a crack or you'll break your mama's back. There are so many other superstitions, I cannot wait to see some of the superstitions that are added to the hashtag collection. There are already some awesome posts!
I am feeling better today. Valentine's Day is tomorrow, and I look forward to sharing what the boyfriend has planned. I hope y'all have a lovely weekend!
Here I am wearing my knee high boots and flowy top from Forever 21. My leggings are from Marshall's. I received this adorable necklace for Christmas from the boyfriend's Grammie. It's such a cool necklace, and I'm excited to experiment with it.
I hope y'all enjoyed this outfit. I'm hoping to head to the Julep Maven meet up tomorrow here in Dallas at Max's Wine Dive. I'll definitely write a blog post if I make it. Have a great one!
-xoxo-
Stephanie
If you saw my Ulta beauty haul post last month, I said I am going to try and do an Ulta and Sephora beauty haul every month. I'm not sure if I am going to continue to do the same store, or just change it up with different beauty hauls each month, but we will see what happens. Let me now if you have a preference. I'm sort of obsessed with Ulta and Sephora right now, so I think I will be purchasing plenty there in the next year.
I have been wanting a stippling brush for a little while now, and decided to buy the Real Techniques stippling brush at Ulta, since I like the eyeliner brush from the same brand, which I received in my Ipsy bag. It's a decent brush, and I like switching it up between using my fingers or a sponge (although, I usually end up using all three for better coverage). I'm not sure if there are brushes that don't lose their bristles, but when I was washing the brush, I noticed a lot of the fibers falling out, and there were a few on my face. This always happens with my larger brushes, so if anyone can suggest better brushes that don't lose their fibers as often, let me know. Fleur Deforce mentioned the Sephora stippling brush is really nice, but she didn't mention whether or not it loses many fibers.
So I went to Ulta yesterday with the intention of purchasing a makeup remover, and decided to wander around a bit more since I never knew there was a discount aisle. I dug around when I found the discount aisle, and was about to walk away when I saw piles and piles of plushy fabric. Upon closer inspection, I saw they were robes on sale. I had to double take the price, because I was impressed when I saw they were discounted from $60 to $5.97. Not only were the robes on sale for $5.97, but I had a coupon for $3.50 off $10 or more. So, when the above was all said and done, I ended up paying $4.74 for the most plushy robes I have ever felt. I bought the first robe as a gift for my boyfriend, since I didn't see any size small robes (and knew I would borrow the robe anyway). But after I got back home, I decided I wanted to go back and get more robes for gifts before they were gone. I was so excited because I don't find many deals that are that good. So far I have given away three robes, and I plan on getting more. The coupon for $3.50 off ends on the 14th. So get to your local Ulta and see if you have these robes on sale near you.
I also bought Rimmel London lippies on a whim. There was a sale on Rimmel London products, buy one, get one 50% off. I didn't need them, but I was curious how they work, since I have not tried many Rimmel London products. I really love the Lasting Finish Kate Moss collection color I bought in 08. I bought a nude color in 113, but I am not certain if I like it alone, although I do like it under the 08 as a base. The finish is more on the matte side, which I like, or will add a gloss on top for shine. The packaging is adorable.
I also bought the Provocalips because they are cute, and I don't own any long-wear lip products. I was bummed when I got home because the nude Provocalips was open and leaked everywhere in my bag, but I am thankful I just bought a cosmetics organizer, because if you leave it standing up you won't have that issue. I tried shutting the product tight and holding it upside down, but the color still seems to seep out just the slightest bit, which is gradually wasteful. I like the formula, and it really does stay on your lips well, but I have not timed it yet to see how long. I will be sure to follow up about this product in a later blog post. I have not opened the pink Provocalips, because I do not want it to leak everywhere.
The last two products I bought this month is the Maybelline Fit Me concealer and the Color Elixer gloss. I wrote an earlier blog post about these items, which I am loving right now. Be sure to look through some of my prior posts to find more beauty loves.
I know this is a long post. If you made it to the end, good for you! I don't normally write this much, and I might need to start making YouTube videos for these hauls. I haven't decided what I want to do yet. Let me know if you would like to see a video versus a blog post about my beauty hauls.
-xoxo-
Stephanie
I wore this outfit this time last week. I am wearing heeled Soda cowgirl-style boots. I cannot recall where I bought the boots, but you can find the same pair on Amazon. My olive pants are from Forever 21. I found the front tie shirt at Steinmart. My jean blazer is Ralph Lauren the boyfriend found for me.
If any of you follow my Instagram, you would have seen that I am sharing pictures from my trip to New York City last year. I had so much fun visiting NYC. It was my first time vacationing in NYC. It is one of the coolest places I have ever been to so far. Gossip Girl is one of my favorite shows of all time, and I was just starting to read the books when I went to NYC. It was so awesome, because I was able to visit a few of the places from the show.
Make sure you look me up on Instagram @dressdynamicdallas to see some of the cool things I saw on my trip to NYC, and much much more.
-xoxo-
Stephanie
I have been waiting for over a year to use these cute metal shapes I found at Forever 21 for a super deal. I was unsure as to how to use them and found a nail glue on Amazon with high feedback ratings. Now I am so excited to start creating more fun designs. My first design is inspired by Valentine's Day.
For this manicure, you will need metal heart shapes of some sort. You will also need nail glue, mauve/burgundy, pink, and Metamorphic nail polish from Julep. The last item you will need is a dotter or toothpick to make dots.
Start with two coats of the mauve/burgundy nail polish. Let that dry for a few minutes, and then put two drops of nail glue on your middle finger. You can use a tweezers or just your fingers, and place the heart on the center of your middle finger. Put a few drops of pink polish on a piece of paper, and use the dotter or toothpick to create pink dots on each finger except the middle finger. Finish off the polka dot nails with the Metamorphic top coat. All finished!
I hope you enjoyed this nail tutorial. Please let me know if you have any inspiring ideas for future tutorials. Have a wonderful day!
-xoxo-
Stephanie
I bought this face mask a few months back and finally took the time to use it. I have tried makeup by It's Skin, but this is the first face mask I have used. I was lured by the beautiful packaging and the title, Prestige Syn-Ake. It is amazing the ingredients you can find in beauty care. It says this product contains snake venom. How cool!
I had to laugh when wearing this face mask. I've seen pictures of others using similar products, and they look a bit spooky. I'm not sure I'd recommend wearing it next to your boyfriend or husband. My boyfriend was a bit scared to look at me. I just kicked back in bed and applied the mask. You'll want to lay back on your pillows or in a bath because it will take 15-20 minutes, and you don't want it to fall off. Once finished, peel off, toss, and let the excess product absorb in your skin. It's as simple as that!
I like how tight my face felt after I used Prestige Syn-Ake face mask. I will definitely use them again. It would probably be best to use this product before you start your day, so it can work its magic all day long. It's Skin is an awesome brand I highly recommend looking into. Check back for more upcoming articles on It's Skin products.
-xoxo-
Stephanie
A few weeks ago I went to Mercat Bistro here in Dallas, Texas with the boyfriend and his mom. We were out looking for a new place to rent, and his mom suggested we try out this restaurant. They were technically closed, as it was 2PM, but they were staying open for some reason, and said we could stay. When the boyfriend's mom went in to the restroom, she saw the Governor was having lunch. We were dining outside, and I never went in the Bistro, but I still thought it was cool we were the only ones present. It was such a lovely day! Sometimes, I would like to have snow sometimes, but on days like the day above, I don't really miss snow.
I really love the location of Mercat Bistro. As you can tell in the picture, the plates are beautiful. We tried the charcuterie for our appetizer, and I ordered the French onion soup as my lunch. I also ordered a black hat, which is an espresso shot on top of vanilla flavored cream. It's delicious! I also enjoyed everything else. I will definitely return and try more.
I hope y'all enjoyed this post! Happy weekend!
-xoxo-
Stephanie
On Saturday I went to Home Goods for the second time. I am obsessed with that store! I scored the cosmetics organizer by Clearly Chic for about $20 and a hamper for under $20. There were so many types of hampers, it was fun. The bf and I went back and forth for a good ten minutes over size, pattern and convenience. We really do overanalyze everything!
Today has been a busy day. The bf and I went to pick up his truck with the replaced tires after they were stolen, and the insurance company put 17 inch tires on when it should've been 20 inches. His truck looked really funny and we have to wait until tomorrow to pick it up. It's been such a hassle and almost a thousand dollars after the deductible. It's really sad all of the hassle because of the greed of others. If anyone out there has expensive tires, keep your cars locked up or insure them. It will probably be worth it if you live in a city.
Hope y'all had a great day!
-xoxo-
Stephanie
Hey, y'all! I meant to write yesterday, so sorry to keep ya hanging. Sunday was technically one of twelve special days I cannot wait to continue each month. I had fun shopping and eating brunch at Blue Mesa Grille. Home Goods is a kick A store! I scored some adorable clear cosmetics organizers and a hamper, so I can take my laundry to a cleaning service in a cute carrier. I also went to Ulta, which was so fun. It was my first time, and I went in with a mission, so I didn't get too distracted.
On Saturday I wore my UW-Wisconsin leggings from Victoria's Secret. I'm originally from Wisconsin, so I like to wear them in support. My gray top and red tank top is from Forever 21. I also wore Ugg boots.
I hope y'all are having a great week so far!
-xoxo-
Stephanie
I better write about the Ipsy January Glam Bag before the month is up. I am such a huge fan and supporter of Ipsy. I love the idea, and for $10, I think what you see above is worth a ten spot. If you want to sign up for Ipsy after reading this post, you can use the referral link, and we all win.
I basically loved everything in my Ipsy bag this month. I haven't really had any complaints, though, so I've really loved them all. The only complaint I really have is the size of the bag for my own personal use, but I am still happy because I can gift the bag to someone else who can use it. My favorite glam bag was in September of 2014, because it was the most spacious. I have only been an Ipsy member since September of 2014, so I am unsure of previous bag sizes. I still think all of the designs are adorable.
Below is a list of all of the things that came in my bag. I love how Ipsy will customize your bag based on your eye and hair color, along with skin tone, and other details. It makes the bag feel more personal, and you are getting items you can actually use. I hope y'all enjoyed this post. Stay tuned for details on the February Glam Bag.
Fantabulous Gel Eye Liner
Sheer Glo by Manna Kadar
Renewing Eye Cream by Nourish Organic
Natural Mineral Coconut Eye Shadow
Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush
-xoxo-
Stephanie
TGIF! All of our appliances are back up and working properly, and I can get busy doing laundry all weekend. It's amazing how much you really miss something when it's gone! And I have a new dishwasher to try out.
Today I wore my pale blue pants from Stein Mart. I cannot remember where I bought my shoes, but they are booties that dip in the front and have a little bead dangle on the zipper. I'm wearing a teal, short sleeve one-piece from Forever 21. My necklace is also from Forever 21.
I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend! The boyfriend and I are trying some new traditions this year. We've decided to start having Christmas once a month on the 25th like a sort of 12 days of Christmas concept. He thought it would be fun because he likes to give presents. And we wanted something to plan on every month since we LOVE Christmas. We won't keep up Christmas decorations year round or anything, and the real Christmas is still going to be just as epic, because I love giving presents more than I like receiving. And as weird as it might sound, he was sort of inspired by Gone Girl, because he liked how the two main characters had sweet traditions. Obviously we would not be condoning cutting off heads or anything. And I'm not planning my own fake murder. Lol!
-xoxo-
Stephanie
